New Esoteric players (K-01, K-03): anyone has seen or heard? - Page 3

Congrats. on your new purchase googleli!  Despite what a few people have said about the cost of the K-01, I am sure the majority of Head-Fiers will look forward to reading about  your listening impressions of the K-01 when you have it broken in, but it also sounds like it is great right out of the box.  Enjoy in good health!  Cheers.

Thanks folks. I can understand the reaction from some people in another thread - isn't it the same reaction we get from non head-fiers when we purchased higher end headphones? When we can listen to something good we want the others to have it too or at least get a feel of what it is like. Will certainly post some impressions after some proper burn in.

But cost vs. relative value are two different concepts not everyone understands.  The sticker shock alone--usually from individuals who had never had a chance to see much less experience one of these fine products up close and personal--will elicit a negative psychological response from them and at a certain level that is understandable, especially in the current macroeconomic environment when most people have trouble making ends meet, much less consider luxury items.

 

Where I draw the line is when the "bits are bits" argument (for digital sources) and the "as long there is connectivity all cables sound the same" argument (for interconnects) are being raised randomly out of state of denial, ignorance or whatever reason, except firsthand impressions.

 

It is generally more acceptable to spend equal amount of funds for a 138 different IEMs, 25 headphones, 17 different amps--theoretical examples only--than apply those resources for a few quality components to enable the highest possible fidelity of music enjoyment, the way it was meant to be heard.  As an audiophile, it should be the ultimate goal, one that is admittedly a very costly hobby.

 

In the end of the day, all that matters is the level of satisfaction you get for your hard-earned money, not what anyone here posts, including me.

While bits may be actually bits, there are countless ways to better extract and convert them to analog audio. With that in mind, the choice of sources - both in terms of recordings as well as players - is probably the most fundamental factor as to the overall performance of a system, whether headphone or speaker based.

 

As to the issue of headphone or amp collecting, I personally subscribe to the notion that is to better to aim for quality rather than quantity in terms of audio components. My two headphones (open and closed backs) are more than enough for my current needs and I may even downsize to just one amp in the end.
 

 

Edited by Arnaldo - 5/13/11 at 1:11pm

No, I haven't yet but I believe it won't be difficult to get a pair in Hong Kong when it is out. I think I will go with either the SS or tube Stax amps first, then order the BHSE online. With the K-01 as source feeding the SR-009 I am hoping it will be a setup standing on one of the peaks of the Head-fi world. For the P01 + D01 + G0Rb + Sennheiser Orpheus setup, I guess I will defer to warp08.

 

Quote:

 

I just found out that the K-01 can connect directly to a 10M clock - wouldn't that save me some money if I were to add a clock?

Funny...but all I could afford was a pre-owned P-03/D-03/G-0x for now.  The G-0rb upgrade will have to wait until next year.  Rich guys, like Googleli can afford to buy new....LOL

 

Yes it can, and I was on the fence about that myself with the K-03 (which also can).  The only affordable 10M Master Clock on the market I'm aware of is the Antelope ISO 10M "Atomic" clock which puts out a 10Mhz word signal.  Even my G-0x Crystal clock could accept that as a source.  Is this recommended?  Does it achieve the same results or better than the G-0rb or the older G-0s Rubidium clocks which do not put out higher than 176kHz signal?  I searched and searched for information and the consensus was to avoid this combination of those who tried including the previous owner of my P-03.  He had both the 10+OCX slave clock combo in hooked up to his dCS Scarlatti DAC with the P-03, and found that the sound quality actually worsened with that combo against all logic.  He described the phenomenon as "they made the sound "thinner.""

 

On the other hand, every single post or review I was able to find of the Rubidium clock (G-0rb) resulted in noticeable improvement.  There are currently two G-0s clocks for sale on Audiogon.  One of them--Spearit Sound--advertises the G-0s as to be equal to the G-0rb in every way except chassis design.  That is incorrect.  I've contacted ESOTERIC and they offer an upgrade to G-0s owners to G-0rb boards within the same chassis for $2,700. Cheaper than a trade-in.

Next year l'll have the money to change my audio equipment, l have the BHSE on order but it won't be until March - April 2012 before l can make the final payment, the other equipment l'm getting will be SR009's and K-01, l guess next year's [ for me that is ] going to drag somewhat.

                                                                                     Dave.

Should I take the leap of faith, like I did with the ED10, and go for the SR009? Or wait for more reviews to come out? I have read that SR009 vs SR007 is like HD800 vs HD650. If that is the case I am not sure if that is exactly what I want. Or is that all bs and I should be reasonably safe going for the SR009 first thing it comes out?

I am curious if anyone considered the EMM XDS1 as opposed to the Esoteric K-01.

I have the CDSA-SE with the EMM X-upgrade and it is very natural and silky with great controlled bass with the right amps for most of my headphones

(800s, T1s, Edition 8s, LCD2s). I haven't heard the XDS1, but I am told it is very similar to my player but with somewhat superior soundstaging and a little deeper bass.

What do you guys think of those older and cheaper Esoteric players such as X-03 ?  Do they have good build quality with excellent reliability ?

l've got the X-03se and not only does it sound great but it's built like a tank, that's one of the reasons why my next disc player will be the K-01, l guess the XDS1 might sound as good as the K-01, but IMO l don't believe it's in the same league as the K-01's build quality, plus l think the K-01  is some looker.

                                                            Dave.
 

 

 

Edited by David1961 - 5/15/11 at 3:28am

It is indeed a tank. With 41 kg with box and more than 35 kg without, I had some hard time moving it up on my SolidSteel 6.2 Hifi rack. It's aesthetics may not appeal to all and a bit cold on first encounter, but when it sits on my rack I simply can't resist looking at it from time to time when I am listening to music.